Caloric restriction of mammals leads to decreases in blood pressure and heart rate. Although relevant clinically, the mechanisms involved, in terms of hormones and signaling pathways invoked, are currently not known. Circumstantial evidence suggests that leptin signaling may be involved with the bradycardia and hypotension associated with caloric restriction. This hypothesis was specifically tested using leptin-deficient mice (ob/ob) or leptin-receptor rats (Koletsky). Ob/ob mice were… CONTINUE READING